Relationship expert shares the five signs of ‘silent cheating’ that you might not notice from your partner

A relationship expert has revealed five key signs that your partner could be 'silent cheating' on you.

While silence in moderation can actually be the key to a healthy relationship, too much is less than ideal.

Every relationship is different, and what some people might see as 'red flags', others will identify as 'green flags', so really, you have to be careful when following a stranger's advice on the internet.

The user, who simply goes by M, offers valuable advice on domestic abuse and relationships to over 100,000 followers on the social media platform, and in a recent video, she broke down five examples of 'silent cheating' you might see from your partner.

Flirting, but just a little bit

Flirting when you are in a relationship is usually never a good idea, unless it's with the person you're dating, or if it can be used to both people's benefit, like flirting with a waiter to get a free dessert that you can later share.

The relationship expert says: "They might engage with certain people, like, comment, follow people that make you uncomfortable, but not outright enough for you to call it cheating.

Some red flags could be right under your nose (Getty Stock)

"It's so confusing. They have these overly friendly comments, inside jokes, these just barely there physical touches, and if you bring it up they will brush it off.

"'Relax, I was just being nice,' or, 'You know we're just friends, we're just co-workers,' but you know deep down something's off."

Keeping their options open

If you're in a long-term relationship and the other person is still 'keeping their options open' by not committing, then you probably need to find someone new. The content creator also condemns people who are still friends with their ex, which, fair enough, is a bit strange.

She said: "They might keep their options open without technically cheating.

"Let's say they have an ex that they're 'just friends' with but they talk all the time.

"This is their way of keeping somebody in their life who clearly has romantic interest in them and it's like they're always keeping a backup plan just in case."

Being emotionally intimate with someone else

The creator also says this is a no-go, as really you should be able to share everything with a partner and it seems odd for you to be able to share that with someone else.

In the video, M says: "Are they building emotional intimacy with somebody else? Are they confiding in someone about things that they should be discussing with you?

"Are they turning to this person for validation, for comfort, for connection, but claiming that it's nothing?

Is your partner showing some of these signs? (Getty Stock)

"It might not be physical, but it still leaves you feeling like you're being emotionally replaced? That's silent cheating."

Acting suspicious with their phone

This one never usually ends well, unless they're planning a surprise party or buying a secret gift.

The expert suggests: "I feel like we've all been in this one. This person is acting very suspicious with their phone, right?

"They're turning their screen away when they're texting, or they're suddenly exiting out of apps when you walk by.

"You might notice certain contacts or messages mysteriously disappearing, and if you ask who they're talking to, they might get weirdly defensive, like 'Why do you even care?' or 'Just a friend' or 'it's nothing.' That's weird."

Getting defensive

Finally, we have partners who get defensive and deny things when you accuse them. Now, if you accuse your partner of cheating outright and they get defensive, you should bear in mind that they may actually be telling the truth, but M feels that this is one of the 'most important' signs of silent cheating.

She says: "I think it's one of the most important. Instead of reassuring you, they get defensive when you bring up their concerns, they flip it on you,' she explained.

'"Wow, so you don't trust me' or 'You're just paranoid.'

'A lot of the time they never actually deny it, they just make you feel very guilty for even asking. Silent cheating is still cheating.

"If they have to hide it, if they have to deny it, if they gaslight you when you bring it up, it's a problem. Real love does not make you feel replaceable."